(617) 867-9955

50 Dalton St
Boston, MA 02115 42.346723 -71.08502

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Neighborhoods: Fenway/Kenmore, Fenway

summershackrestaurant.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm

Fri 5pm-11pm

Sat 11:30am-11pm

Sun 11:30am-10pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Gift Certificate, American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Brunch, Date Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Chowder, Seafood

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Summer Shack

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

The Scene – Having successfully opened "shacks" in Cambridge (Alewife) and the Mohegan Sun Casino, local seafood maven Jasper White has also set up shop above the popular Kings bowling alley. A wildly varied crowd of tourists, conventioneers and locals fill the sprawling dining room to sample fresh New England seafood. Pleasant servers deliver fruity house drinks from the large circular bar. – – The Food – The "shack" label is a bit disingenuous: How many shacks, after all, serve almond-crusted flounder, or spinach and rock shrimp salad with warm bacon dressing? Some…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
The large dining room is a popular spot for families with small fry. Couples looking for ambience should try their luck at the hipper circular bar.
Save Money:
Stop by Mon-Fri from 4pm-6:30pm for a bargain happy hour food menu (an order of fried calamari costs only $3).
ambiance
90.0% positive
  1. “They have a huge selection of oysters, great lobsters available in 4 different sizes and a very fun atmosphere.”
  2. “Great Food, great atmosphere!”
  3. “The prices are right and it is fun to go to the window and order the food.”
  4. “Great family atmosphere picnic tables!”
  5. “think this place is great - very good seafood in an unpretentious, fun atmosphere.”
  6. “great simple seafood, relaxed atmosphere, all done well.”
  7. “The staff is fun and energetic, and jasper has done it again w/ this clam shack in a concrete jungle.”
  8. “The ambiance is fun, casual, and relaxed and the staff was very accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable.”
  9. “We expected lively ambiance, but could have done without the uncomfortable bench seating.”
  10. “The table seating was comfortable.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Summer Shack is a great place to go whether you are looking for casual seafood or the cream of the crop.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Excellent food and drinks- The special Apple Spice Martini was great.”
  2. “go to the shack-o almost every friday or saturday it is such a good place to go hang out and have drinks and some oyster.”
food quality
80.88000297546387% positive
  1. “-Ever-changing Menu: I love the multiple seafood specials written up on the chalkboard.”
  2. “It came cut up into 6 pieces, and we were left to crack the claws and knuckles covered in gooey brandy/butter sauce- very messy!”
  3. “Delicious with good tartar sauce!”
  4. “The menu changes obviously offering you whats fresh f.”
  5. “Also recommended are the corn, fried clams, and baked beans.”
  6. “love this place soooo much, I'm not really a seafood lover but after coming here, that changed.”
  7. “great simple seafood, relaxed atmosphere, all done well.”
  8. “good food, good service!”
  9. “From the exceptional service, to the always exquisite food and the happy surroundings, it was flawless.”
  10. “ate at Summer Shack last week and the food was great.”
  11. “Summer Shack is a great place to go whether you are looking for casual seafood or the cream of the crop.”
  12. “Everything we had: oysters on the halfshell, softshell crabs, shad roe, fried clams, grilled salmon & halibut were all wonderful.”
  13. “Great seafood.”
  14. “The "spicy and greasy" calamari is the best I've had anywhere, including places which have charged a lot more.”
  15. “The summer shack was the best seafood we had while in boston.”
  16. “think this place is great - very good seafood in an unpretentious, fun atmosphere.”
  17. “Great food!”
  18. “The salmon was dry as a shoe sole!”
  19. “All in all definitely the worst food i have probably ever eaten.”
  20. “The prices are right and it is fun to go to the window and order the food.”
  21. “Also, I noticed that some people complained about prices/portions but I thought the portions were just fine and of course fresh seafood is a bit more expensive than frozen - I'd rather pay a few extra dollars for high end quality seafood - if you don't, t”
  22. “fish in the soup was fresh and abundant, the lobster in herbed butter sauce was succulent, and the crab in the sandwich was sweet & plentiful.”
  23. “Excellent food and drinks- The special Apple Spice Martini was great.”
  24. “The fish was super fresh and the soy/wasabi sauce they served it with was great.”
  25. “went to this place twice, because i thought it's a nice place to go, Seafoood is ok, But the Waiter staff aren't helpful, they Ignored us everytime we went, they'll bring you food but after that they just disappear even though they are not busy.”
  26. “can't wait to go back, we had a great time and a great meal.”
  27. “Most of the clams and mussels in my meal were empty, and those that were in their poor shell were cooked beyond recognition.”
  28. “The burger was great!”
  29. “Sometimes people forget that good seafood is costs more than other foods, and so complain about the price.”
  30. “The food was fast and it wasn't as crowded as by Fenway.”
  31. “The food was awesome!”
  32. “consider myself an oyster lover and do not mind at all to pay for good food but i definitely had the hardest time paying for this awful dinner.”
  33. “Terrible food - over cooked and over priced”
  34. “consider the Shack a great place and rarely pass up a chance to go, I also always recommend it to friends and visitors to Boston who are looking for good seafood.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “They have a huge selection of oysters, great lobsters available in 4 different sizes and a very fun atmosphere.”
  2. “The menu changes obviously offering you whats fresh f.”
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “This is a great family-friendly restaurant!”
  2. “consider the Shack a great place and rarely pass up a chance to go, I also always recommend it to friends and visitors to Boston who are looking for good seafood.”
  3. “Summer Shack is a great place to go whether you are looking for casual seafood or the cream of the crop.”
  4. “It is a great place for groups, parties and kids.”
  5. “went to this place twice, because i thought it's a nice place to go, Seafoood is ok, But the Waiter staff aren't helpful, they Ignored us everytime we went, they'll bring you food but after that they just disappear even though they are not busy.”
  6. “go to the shack-o almost every friday or saturday it is such a good place to go hang out and have drinks and some oyster.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “can't wait to go back, we had a great time and a great meal.”
service
80.0% positive
  1. “The ambiance is fun, casual, and relaxed and the staff was very accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable.”
  2. “i went there when they were self service and i didn't like the place at all ,but i tried the full service.”
  3. “Service was friendly and mostly efficient both times.”
  4. “But overall its not BAD service, just inconsistent...probably the only inconsistent aspect of the Shack.”
  5. “Friendly staff.”
  6. “Also, I noticed that some people complained about prices/portions but I thought the portions were just fine and of course fresh seafood is a bit more expensive than frozen - I'd rather pay a few extra dollars for high end quality seafood - if you don't, t”
  7. “for now on i hope they don't swith self service to full service any more”
  8. “Sometimes people forget that good seafood is costs more than other foods, and so complain about the price.”
  9. “This is a great family-friendly restaurant!”
  10. “Our waitress was great.”
  11. “Pan roasted lobster was good, however the server mistakenly told us that the lobster was shelled, which it wasn't.”
  12. “went to this place twice, because i thought it's a nice place to go, Seafoood is ok, But the Waiter staff aren't helpful, they Ignored us everytime we went, they'll bring you food but after that they just disappear even though they are not busy.”
  13. “From the exceptional service, to the always exquisite food and the happy surroundings, it was flawless.”
  14. “good food, good service!”
  15. “The staff is fun and energetic, and jasper has done it again w/ this clam shack in a concrete jungle.”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “They have a huge selection of oysters, great lobsters available in 4 different sizes and a very fun atmosphere.”
  2. “Food was Dry and portions were small not to say over-over priced”
  3. “Sometimes people forget that good seafood is costs more than other foods, and so complain about the price.”
  4. “Also, I noticed that some people complained about prices/portions but I thought the portions were just fine and of course fresh seafood is a bit more expensive than frozen - I'd rather pay a few extra dollars for high end quality seafood - if you don't, t”
  5. “(Still, there are exceptions here: the oysters are slightly pricey, and a scallop special I had was a bit much.)”
  6. “The prices are right and it is fun to go to the window and order the food.”
  7. “Terrible food - over cooked and over priced”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/10/10

My "Go-To" for Seafood

by DavisSqVillen , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

I am a big Summer Shack fan, and have been going to both locations for years. I think this place is great – very good seafood in an unpretentious, fun atmosphere. A few things I really like:

-Ever-changing Menu: I love the multiple seafood specials written up on the chalkboard. Every day is a different menu depending on what’s fresh and available

-Fried Clams: I swear they used to taste better but they’re still very, very good, albeit a little dry. Delicious with good tartar sauce! Rhode Island style calamari counts here too.

-Great music: I know this sounds strange but the music is always good classic rock stuff. Plenty of fun songs you don’t hear every day. I’ll also point out I heard “Rock Lobster” at the Shack twice on two consecutive visits. It was weird and awesome at the same time.

-Fish: super fresh and prepared in a straightforward manner. Always good!

-Raw bar and liquor bar: both nicely done, with plenty of options. Great beer selection as well!

A couple things to complain about:

-Price: For a place with paper covering the tables, free balloons, and a bucket holding your ketchup, vinegar, salt, etc its kind of expensive. But its all in good fun and the food is top notch!

-Service: Can be inconsistent. I think the Shack has a tendency to hire younger (like high school/college-aged) wait staff and than can occasionally lead to ambivalent, inexperienced, or slow service. But overall its not BAD service, just inconsistent…probably the only inconsistent aspect of the Shack.

I consider the Shack a great place and rarely pass up a chance to go, I also always recommend it to friends and visitors to Boston who are looking for good seafood. Go Shack!

  • Pros: Great food and atmosphere! One of my favs!
  • Cons: Expensive, service is spotty
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/30/09

SPRING SOUP=Amazing

by foodislove at Citysearch

you must try the split pea corn chowder soups...half of the bowl is filled with each soup...you can mix or have one at a time...anyway its inventive and it tastes amazing. i had it tonight and i am def going back.

  • Pros: delicious
  • Cons: there are none
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/03/09

Loved it!!

Contributor at Citysearch

I love this place soooo much, I'm not really a seafood lover but after coming here, that changed. If your in Boston and looking for good, quality food, Summer Shack is the place to go!

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/27/08

horrible restaurant

by Sarita8219 at Citysearch

i was recently vacationing in boston when we decided to get some oysters at the summer shack. being from texas i couldn't wait to get some amazing oysters...i did NOT find anything amazing here. I was starving when we arrived and i was Starving when we left. Yet, i still managed to spend 40 dollars. I shared a dozen oysters for 33 dollars and only ate 3. I consider myself an oyster lover and do not mind at all to pay for good food but i definitely had the hardest time paying for this awful dinner. I ordered the shrimp salad and could not even eat it, i had 4 of my friends taste it to see if maybe i was being picky. They thought it was just as disgusting. All in all definitely the worst food i have probably ever eaten.... or not eaten??? Stay away from this restaurant, it was obviously empty for a reason.

blah!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/24/08

good food, good service!

by ll268 at Citysearch

we had a wonderful lunch at the summer shack this past sunday while taking an early drive. it was a great choice. service was on point... fast, friendly, and relaxed. the bermudian fish chowder, pan roasted lobster and crab club sandwich... all were excellent.... fish in the soup was fresh and abundant, the lobster in herbed butter sauce was succulent, and the crab in the sandwich was sweet & plentiful. even the bartender was on point..... the mango mohitos were really good! great simple seafood, relaxed atmosphere, all done well.

  • Pros: fresh seafood, good portion sizes, great waitstaff, good drinks
  • Cons: is a little pricey

The Details on Summer Shack

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • great place
  • full service
  • great family atmosphere
  • energetic staff
  • super fresh fish
  • many enjoyable dinner
  • good pan roasted lobster
  • wonderful lunch
  • amazing oysters
  • consistently wonderful summer shack
  • big summer shack fan
  • amazing panroasted lobster
  • great good seafood
  • great familyfriendly restaurant
  • uncomfortable bench seating
  • not helpful waiter staff
  • fun ambiance
  • comfortable table seating
  • dry salmon
  • really good mango mohitos
  • great concept jasper
  • great simple seafood
  • great meal
  • more expensive fresh seafood

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